Oklahoma SPJ Annual Awards

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Each year the Oklahoma SPJ Pro Chapter recognizes exceptional Oklahoma journalism at our annual awards banquet.   The 2019 awards season will be opening soon. Below are the categories that will be recognized. 

Information produced by an organization and disseminated to membership, sponsors, clients, or the media in an attempt to gain favorable editorial coverage or inform clientele about updates within the organization. Included in this category: newsletters, press releases, annual reports, and periodical publications. Media entered into the PR categories MAY NOT be entered into the magazine category.  

1. Newsletter: Submit three separate newsletters. Judging will be based on overall content, appearance and readability. 2. Promotional Material: Submit one item. The category includes fliers, posters, special projects, brochures, advertisements, videos and photographs. 3. Annual Report 4. Press Release Writing: Submit one press release on a news item or feature story relating to any organization. Press releases promoting products are ineligible. 5. General Writing: Any article appropriate for the target audience that does not fit in another category. Judges will consider quality of reporting and writing. 6. PR Publication Cover: Submit one cover. Judges will consider unity of images and typography, art, design, overall impression for readers. 7. Best PR Publication: Submit one publication. Entry will be judged on design, content, photography and overall excellence.

8. General News: General reporting on any topic. 9. Spot News: Reporting on an unanticipated news event that is produced and aired within 24 hours of the event. Report may be aired simultaneously with the event being covered within or outside of a regularly scheduled newscast. Includes breaking news of any kind. 10. Sports Reporting: Any sports story or feature, including play-by-play. 11. Feature: A single report included in a newscast that is considered to be a relief or contrast to news reporting. 12. Investigative and Enterprise Reporting: Reporting of a community problem or issue requiring research and investigative journalism. 13. Government and Criminal Justice Reporting: A program, report or series covering local, state or federal government issues, including but not limited to police affairs. 14. Election Reporting: A report, series of reports or program on political candidates and/or issues. Limit series to three reports. 15. Diversity Coverage: A report, series of reports or program that addresses personalities or issues relating to protected classes or minority status based on race, gender, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status or age. 16. Special Program: A single, self-contained report or program aired separately from a regularly scheduled newscast and is at least a half-hour program. 17. Interview/Talk Show: Any topic. Limit entry to no more than one hour. 18. Live Broadcast: A single program, special or series on any topic which is broadcast live or live-to-tape and consists of at least 70 percent live material. Time limit one (1) hour (up to 3 edits are allowed to bring longer programs to the time limit.). 19. Best Newscast: Best overall radio newscast. Limit entry to no more than one hour.

20. General News: General reporting on any topic. 21. Spot News: Reporting of a spontaneous occurrence from the scene. Includes breaking news of any kind and weather reports. 22. Live Broadcast: A single program, special or series on any topic which is broadcast live or live-to-tape and consists of at least 70 percent live material. Time limit one (1) hour (up to three edits are allowed to bring longer programs to the time limit). 23. Documentary: An in-depth report or program that is at least 30 minutes in length which focuses on one particular subject or issue. 24. Special Program: A single, self-contained report or program which aired separately from a regularly scheduled newscast and is at least a half-hour program. 25. Feature: A single report included in a newscast and considered a relief or contrast to news reporting. 26. Investigative and In-depth Enterprise Reporting: Reporting of a community problem or issue requiring research and investigative journalism. Entry must be part of a regularly scheduled newscast or public affairs program. 27. Sports Reporting: Report of a sporting event or sports topic. Limit play-by-play reports to 30 minutes or less. 28. Consumer Reporting: A report or series of reports that exposes products or companies performing consumer disservice or that offers consumers news of new products or services. 29. Criminal Justice and Government Reporting: A report, program or series covering local, state or federal government issues, including but not limited to police affairs and crime topics. 30. Election Reporting: A report, series of reports or program on political candidates and/or issues. Limit series to three reports. 31. Health Reporting: A report, program or series covering medical or health issues. 32. Diversity Coverage: A report, series of reports or program that addresses personalities or issues relating to protected classes or minority status based on race, gender, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status or age. 33. Illustration/Graphic: Originally produced illustration or graphic by an individual. Include accompanying report. 34. Video Editing: Submit one example. 35. Videography: Submit one example. Judges will reward technical merit in the capturing of moving images on electronic media. 36. Best Newscast: Submit one regularly scheduled newscast. Indicate broadcast times.

Open to all organizations. All entries must be in-house work. 37. Online Writing: Content should be produced by a staff member and published only on the Web. 38. Breaking News Coverage: Online coverage throughout the period of a breaking-news event. Provide screen-shots or URLs from the first hours after the event plus updates and additions. 39. Election Coverage: An article, series of articles or project related to political candidates and/or issues. Limit series to three articles. 40. Special Report/Enterprise: Reporting on a single subject. 41. Blog: Blogs are defined as regular postings of commentary or opinion. Submit three postings. 42. Multimedia: Any project that utilizes a combination of content platforms. 43. Video Journalism: Entries should consist of online-originated video journalism crafted specifically for the Web, and may include a single story or up to three examples from a series on a single topic. Slideshows in a video format are not eligible. 44. Slideshow: Journalism presented in slideshow format. 45. Interactive Graphic or Resource: Journalism presented as an interactive chart, graphic, mobile application, unique database, site or other resource created for the public. 46. Web Design: Submit Web site address. Judges will consider such factors as attractiveness, content placement, ease of use. 47. Online Community Engagement: Submit website addresses for social engagement sites (such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr), and/or email newsletters or campaigns. Judges will evaluate site layout and features, tone, quality of conversation and reader participation. 48. Best Website: Entries will be judged on original content, design, creative use of technology, ease of navigation and originality. Submit the URL and a letter detailing how the site originated, how often it is updated, extent of interactivity and the number of visitors a day. Special features should be explained.

A magazine is defined as a printed periodical produced at least monthly for the general public, delivered either electronically or by subscription, on newsstands, or in boxes or racks. Included in this category: city, state and regional magazines; neighborhood magazines; and general interest consumer or business to business magazines. Media entered into the magazine categories MAY NOT be entered into the PR category. 49. Feature Writing: Any feature appropriate for the magazine’s audience. Judges will consider quality of writing and relevance to the audience. 50. News Writing: Article or package judged on the quality of reporting and writing. 51. Column Writing: A single column on any topic by an individual. 52. Profile: A story featuring one or more individuals. Judges will consider quality of writing and relevance to audience. 53. Reader Service: Any feature that offers practical information to the reader in an easily digested format. Judges will consider overall concept, delivery of information and the reader experience. 54. Photo Story/Essay: A group of photos that tell a story relating to any topic. Include a brief synopsis. 55. General Photography: A single photo or photo spread where the presentation of the photographer has enhanced original subject matter. Include a brief synopsis. 56. Page Design: Article or package judged on the quality of design and layout. 57. Illustration/Graphic: Originally produced illustration or graphic by an individual. Include accompanying story. 58. Cover: Judges will consider unity of images and typography, art, design and overall impression for potential readers. 59. Best Magazine: Submit three issues within the contest period. Only one entry per publication. Entry will be judged on design, content, photography and overall excellence

Publication name and date must be visible. There are two newspaper divisions: • Large market – Circulation of 25,000 or more

• Small market – Circulation of less than 25,000 Small market publications may compete in the large market division for an additional $5 per entry.  

GENERAL 60. In-depth Enterprise and Investigative Reporting: An article, package or series of stories on one topic that demonstrates exceptional investigative effort that is more than just the reporting of developing details. Reports must be developed through own initiative and expose a wrong or promote understanding of a problem, issue or subject in the public interest. May include one or more bylines. 61. Government Reporting: Coverage of city, county, state or federal government. Can be an article or package on one topic. Supplemental stories to help judges understand the topic may be included if clearly marked as such. No more than three bylines. 62. Election Reporting: An article, package or series of articles on one topic related to political candidates and/or issues. Limit series to three articles. 63. Spot News: First-day coverage of a breaking hard-news event. Sidebars may be included. 64. Feature Writing: Single story or package on a single topic. No more than two bylines. 65. Personal Column: A single column on any topic by an individual. 66. Editorial/Commentary: A single piece on a single topic by an individual. 67. General News Reporting: A single story on one topic. Sidebars may be included. No more than two bylines. 68. Criminal Justice Reporting: Coverage of any police or crime topic, including court reporting. Sidebars may be included. No more than two bylines. 69. Diversity Coverage: An article, package or series of stories that addresses personalities or issues relating to protected classes or minority status based on race, gender, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status or age. No more than two bylines. 70. Education Reporting: An article, package or series on an education issue. No more than two bylines. 71. Science, Technology, Health and Environmental Reporting: An article, package or series on science, technology, health or the environment. No more than two bylines. 72. Business Reporting: An article, package or series. Includes business news or features. No more than two bylines. ENTERTAINMENT 73. Entertainment Feature: This category includes personality profiles. Submit a single story. No more than two bylines. 74. Arts Criticism: Submit three reviews by one person on theater, movies, music, books or related topic. 75. Leisure Writing: A single story on food, travel, fashion or related topic. SPORTS 76. Sports Reporting: Single story and sidebars. No more than two bylines. 77. Sports Feature: Single story and sidebars. This includes profiles. No more than two bylines. 78. Sports Column: A single sports column by an individual. PHOTOJOURNALISM ENTRIES must include a written caption, an explanation of the circumstances surrounding the image, and proof of publication. 79. General Photography: A single news or feature image where the presentation of the photographer has enhanced the original subject matter. 80. Sports Photography: A single image on a sports subject or in reaction to a sports event or subject. 81. Story/Photo Essay: A group of images relating to any one topic. 82. Spot News Photography: A single image of a breaking news event. OVERALL 83. Page One Layout and Design: Submit front pages of one edition. 84. Feature Page Layout and Design: One page per entry. 85. Use of Graphic Illustration: Originally produced graphics by an individual. Include accompanying story. 86. Headlines: For each entry, submit three headlines written by one person. Please include related stories. 87. Best Newspaper: Submit two entire newspaper editions.

88. Best reporter. Open to all newspaper, online and magazine individual entrants. Submit five newspaper stories by one reporter that were published within the contest period. Judges will determine an all-around best reporter based on the reporter’s skills of information-gathering, writing style and clarity of reporting. 

89. Best broadcast reporter. Open to all television, online and radio individual entrants. S ubmit five stories by one reporter aired within the contest period. Judges will determine an all-around best reporter based on reporter’s ability to gather information and report clearly. 

90. Best photographer. Open to all newspaper, magazine, online and public relations photography entrants. Five images by one photographer that were published within the contest period. Judges will determine an all-around best photographer based on photographic skills of composition, technical expertise and overall excellence.

SPJ OK recognizes three exceptional professionals dedicated to journalism:

• Carter Bradley First Amendment Award
• Teacher of the Year Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award.